European christmas carols   Hirundo Maris

The Hirundo Maris ensemble led by Arianna Savall and Petter Udland Johansen sets the mood for Christmas with European carols from the North to the Mediterranean. They address the different traditions and the variety with which the story of the Nativity – depending on the country and tradition – is told and sung: from the beginnings in the Middle Ages, when they were mainly integrated in the liturgy, to the carols from the 17th century onwards, which were mainly sung at home. The narrative revolves around the birth of Jesus, Gabriel’s greeting to the Virgin Mary and the annunciation to the shepherds. It also recounts the adoration of the shepherds, the appearance of the star of Bethlehem and the visit of the three Wise Men. The premonition of Jesus’ terrible death is also an important element. It is symbolised by the thorns and red berries of the holly, representing the crown of thorns and the blood that Jesus was to shed. The carols resonate with melancholy, hope deriving from light in the darkness, and pure joie de vivre.

Hirundo Maris
Dir: Arianna Savall & Petter Udland Johansen